The much-anticipated 2010 Formula One Season gets underway in Bahrain next week and marks the return of a Mercedes-Benz works team to the sport for the first time in 55 years. The Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team go into the season with the prestige of being the current Constructors’ World Champions, after buying out the defending champion Brawn GP led by Team Principal Ross Brawn, and with one of the most exciting driver line-ups on the grid as seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher returns to the sport to partner the talented Nico Rosberg.

“Finally the season will start! I feel like a child looking forward to Christmas," said the seven-time world champ Michael Schumacher.

"The decision to make my comeback feels like a long time ago now and I can hardly wait for the season to get underway in Bahrain. It’s funny to think that I will be competing in Formula One again when just a few months ago, I would have declined the opportunity categorically. But sometimes things change and the right circumstances come together."

Dismissing any notion that he may be too old and not ready for a comeback, the most prolific F1 driver of all-time says he's fit and ready to go.

"I feel fresher than I have for many years. I am perfectly prepared physically and most importantly, my energy is back completely. When I retired from racing in 2006, my batteries were simply empty. Now they are totally recharged and I am ready for the challenge. It is the competition at the highest level that only Formula One offers which has provided the temptation for me."

Schumacher won't say whether he can return to the dominant form he had with Ferrari but thinks his new team will be competitive.

"It is always difficult to predict the form in pre-season testing, this year more than ever, but the final test in Barcelona proved to us that we should be competitive. We know that we will have more new parts in Bahrain which should bring extra performance to the car. It’s important to be in the leading group from the start of the season and I am confident that we will be there.”

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